The University of Connecticut has been found guilty of violating NCAA recruiting laws. This is the second time in the last year that the university has been investigated. This time around though, the league said they had crossed the line in their recruitment of guard Nate Miles. Miles had committed major NCAA violations by being represented by agent Josh Nochimson. Nochimson provided Miles with lodging, transportation, and restaurant meals. Along with phone calls exceeding the limit for a prospect, they was excessive text messaging. Miles has now taken his talents to the College of Southern Idaho.
Okay, the reason I bring this to the attention of the public is not because I simply want to report on the UConn violation. More and more high profile schools are committing recruiting violations and the NCAA is finally starting to crack down on them. So far in 2010, the likes of UConn, Tennessee, Memphis, Kentucky, Iowa, Arizona, Indiana, Mississippi State and many more have been sanctioned by the NCAA. WHO IS AT FAULT HERE?
Both sides are at fault. But if I had to choose who is more guilty in recruiting violations as a whole, I would come to the conclusion that the coaching staff is at fault. Think of it this way, when a student arrives at a university straight out of high school they are 18, but when they are being actively recruited and sought out by a potential basketball program, they are generally in the 11th grade or just beginning their senior year so they are about 16 years old. Many recruits do have principles and a sense of right or wrong, but even they can be worked over by a coaching staff simply because as a recruit you assume that a potential coach would be looking out for your best interests. It is a naive way of thinking but I do not fault a player for thinking in this manner. If a potential coach offered me something of material value and said that it was within NCAA rules, I would probably accept the offer. Recruiting violations are more and more frequent these days, and they quite frankly need to stop. Historic programs are having their names tarnished and I am sick and tired of it.
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